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cnbc.com
China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus
China said Monday it has decided to block Meta's $2 billion acquisition of Manus, a Singaporean AI startup with Chinese roots.
cnbc.com
European markets edge higher as Iran reportedly makes peace proposal
European stocks edged higher at the start of the new trading week as investors keep a close eye on stalled Iran-U.S. peace talks.
cnbc.com
Brent oil tops $107 per barrel after Iran peace talks stall
President Donald Trump on Saturday cancelled plans to send U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, Pakistan for negotiations with Iran.
theguardian.com
Oil at three-week high as US-Iran peace talks stall; China blocks Meta’s takeover of AI agent Manus – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsShares in athletic apparel and footwear company Adidas have jumped by almost 1.75% in early trading after three of its athletes shone at the London Marathon yesterday.Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha both smashed the two-hour barrier in the men’s marathon race, and Tigist Assefa set a women-only world record in the women’s race.“The adidas family is incredibly proud of Sabastian and Tigist’s historic achievements, marking the fastest times humans have ever run in a marathon.This is a testament to the years of hard work and dedication they have made, alongside our innovation team, who have built a supershoe which breaks new ground in the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.”The Iran war has triggered one of the largest disruptions to physical oil supply in modern history. While de‑escalation could ease some geopolitical risk premiums, the damage to production, exports and logistics means markets are unlikely to quickly return to pre‑war conditions. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Oil prices rise as US-Iran peace talks stall
President Trump said the US had cancelled plans to send a team to Pakistan for negotiations.
theguardian.com
HSBC ‘reviewing’ private school perk for bankers in Hong Kong
Hundreds of senior staff in territory benefit from nearly £30,000-a-year grant per child not available to staff in group’s other hubs HSBC is reportedly reviewing a perk that covers school fees for bankers in Hong Kong as part of a big overhaul of the bank under chief executive Georges Elhedery.Europe’s largest bank is considering whether to scrap the perk for new employees or make changes to total compensation, Bloomberg News reported. No decisions have been made yet. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Europe’s rearmament push drives global military spending to record $2.9 trillion despite U.S. pullback
Global military spending rose for an 11th straight year to a record $2.89 trillion in 2025, driven by Europe’s rearmament push, even as U.S. outlays declined.
theguardian.com
Elon Musk and Sam Altman face off in court over OpenAI’s founding mission
Musk’s lawsuit accuses Altman of fraud, while OpenAI says that Musk is ‘motivated by jealousy’A lawsuit between two of Silicon Valley’s biggest tycoons goes to trial Monday in California, the culmination of a years-long bitter feud. Elon Musk has accused Sam Altman of betraying the founding agreement of the non-profit they started together, OpenAI, by changing it to a for-profit enterprise.Musk accuses Altman, OpenAI, its president Greg Brockman, and its major partner Microsoft of breach of contract and unjust enrichment in the lawsuit. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday morning at a federal courthouse in Oakland, with opening arguments from both sides expected later this week. The trial is slated to last two to three weeks. Along with internal communications from Musk and key executives at OpenAI, the trial promises a who’s who of Silicon Valley on the witness stand, including Musk, Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Purple ube’s viral rise is turning a Filipino staple into a global trend — but supplies are tightening
Ube, a naturally sweet, starchy vegetable grown in the Philippines, has transcended Filipino culture and become a social media sensation.
cnbc.com
Japan, South Korea stocks hit record high as investors shrug off stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations
Asia-Pacific markets climbed Monday as investors looked past renewed diplomatic setbacks between the U.S. and Iran.
bbc.com
The Chinese sports brand taking on Nike and Adidas
Now one of the biggest sportswear firms, Anta's rise follows a playbook adopted by many Chinese giants.
cnbc.com
We spoke to over 30 CEOs and business leaders. Here's what worries them most
Business leaders across the world are confronting a new operating reality: one where war, inflation and artificial intelligence are part of the baseline.
cnbc.com
Sun Pharma shares jump 7% as India's largest drugmaker to buy U.S. firm Organon in $11.75 billion deal
To fuel its global ambitions, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will acquire New Jersey-based Organon & Co in an all-cash deal that values the U.S. company at $11.75 billion.
bbc.com
Less bread and WFH Fridays – what Pret boss knows about our habits
Customers want great value but that doesn't necessarily mean the cheapest products, says Pano Christou.
cnbc.com
Iran reportedly proposes Hormuz Strait deal to U.S. Here’s where things stand — and what’s next for markets
U.S.-Iran peace talks stall. Here's where things stand — and what's next for markets
theguardian.com
Nationwide could have first customer on board for nearly 25 years
James Sherwin-Smith will be up for election after securing more than 250 nominations to run alongside existing directorsNationwide building society could have a customer on its board for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century after one of its longtime members secured enough support for a spot on the lender’s annual ballot.James Sherwin-Smith will be up for board elections at Nationwide’s annual general meeting (AGM) in July, having gathered more than the 250 peer nominations necessary to run alongside existing directors. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
We booked £4,000 in EasyJet flights – but it won’t let us postpone them all after devastating news
The airline refused a refund or credit for our group of 14 after a brain tumour diagnosis for my two-year-old childWe were organising our wedding for this June when the happiest period of our lives became a nightmare.Our two-year-old daughter was diagnosed with an aggressive grade 4 brain tumour requiring immediate life-saving surgeries. The prognosis is devastating. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'There's so much I want to give my daughter - poverty means I can't'
Around a third of Welsh children live in poverty, the highest among the four UK nations.
theguardian.com
Dozens of toys recalled in the UK after asbestos found in play sand
Candle-making kits and rubber toys among products recalled after revelation about play sand sold by HobbycraftMore than 30 children’s toys have been recalled in the UK after the Guardian revealed that play sand sold by Hobbycraft was contaminated with asbestos.Over the past three months, other children’s products ranging from candle-making kits to stretchy rubber toys have been recalled by retailers including Tesco, Primark, Matalan and M&S after being found to contain the substance. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'I don't want the children to see how worried we are': UK family finances hit by Iran war
British families tell BBC Panorama how the Iran war is affecting their monthly budgets.
cnbc.com
China industrial profits jump 15.8% in March, fueled by AI and chip boom despite oil shock risks
Rising global oil prices have begun seeping into the domestic economy, squeezing margins for manufacturers dependent on imported raw materials.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Security scare and stalled Iran talks
The attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner dominated headlines over the weekend, with more details emerging even now.
bbc.com
How climate change threatens the economic backbone of the Pacific
Tuna populations around the Pacific Islands could move away as ocean temperatures increase.
theguardian.com
Children’s shoe retailers say closure of specialist shops is harming foot health
Experts report more young people with conditions such as bunions after wearing shoes that are too small or narrowParents should care for their children’s feet in the same way as their eyes and teeth, according to footwear specialists who say they are seeing more young people with painful conditions such as bunions.Bunions are bony lumps on the side of the foot. People can be genetically pre-disposed but ill-fitting shoes are seen as an aggravating factor. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Everything we know about Cole Allen, the D.C. correspondents dinner shooter
Allen was a guest at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was held, and officials said he checked in on Friday.
theguardian.com
UK urged to deploy EU-style ‘trade bazooka’ against Trump’s tariffs
‘Inadequate economic security’ is putting growth and jobs at risk, says British Chambers of Commerce UK business leaders have called on the government to build an EU-style “trade bazooka” to protect Britain’s economic interests in response to the latest tariff threats from Donald Trump.As transatlantic tensions rise, the British Chambers of Commerce said the UK’s “inadequate economic security” was putting growth and jobs at risk. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Scenes from the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting
Here are some of the chaotic scenes that occurred in the aftermath of the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
theguardian.com
UK faces higher prices for eight months after war in Iran ends, says minister
Darren Jones suggests cost of energy, food and flights will remain high after de-escalation and Hormuz strait reopensThe UK faces higher prices for food and fuel for at least eight months after the war in Iran ends, a minister has said. The closure of the strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane that carries a fifth of global oil and gas, has sent oil prices soaring since the US and Israeli attacks on Iran began in February. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, said the conflict would probably continue to raise prices for energy, food and flights in the coming months as potential issues around energy supplies affect production, rather than lead to shortages on supermarket shelves. The UK government has urged motorists to fill up their cars as usual amid higher prices at the pumps and for air travellers not to change their plans over potential jet fuel shortages. Jones told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: “You’re going to see prices go up a bit as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East. “That’s probably going to come online not just in the next few weeks, but the next few months. There’s going to be a long tail from this.” Asked how long higher prices might remain, Jones suggested it would be around eight months after the strait of Hormuz was unblocked and a de-escalation of the conflict had taken place. “I think our best guess is eight-plus months from the point of resolution that you’ll see economic impacts coming through the system,” he said. Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the US ceasefire with Iran last week that paused most of the fighting, but further efforts towards ending the conflict have been unsuccessful after the US president told his envoys not to travel to Pakistan for talks at the weekend. The UK government is stepping up planning for how to offset the impact, focusing on the live monitoring of stock levels and what plans are in place for addressing supply chain disruption. Jones said: “The government here in the UK, the work that I’m doing with the prime minister is looking at all of those things and saying, ‘What can we do within our power to help people to get through those difficult times?’” The government is also looking to secure stocks of carbon dioxide, which is used in the food industry and by breweries to make drinks fizzy, as well as for defence purposes and medical uses such as MRI scanning. Jones said he was seeking to ensure there was an adequate supply of beer for fans watching the men’s football World Cup, which starts on 11 June. He said: “I raised this issue because if there is a problem with jet fuel on holidays and carbon dioxide on beer, the summer might be pretty depressing for people, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure that it’s not the case.” The Liberal Democrats have called for a bill to be included in the next king’s speech in May to put food security at the top of the government’s agenda. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Greggs rolls back self-service cabinets in shoplifting hotspots
Staff are handing over sandwiches from behind a theft-proof counter as the high street fights backKeir Starmer will attempt to call time on a “disgraceful” shoplifting epidemic afflicting the UK’s retailers, as Greggs became the latest to take action to deter thieves.The bakery chain has axed self-service display cabinets in stores that have been most severely hit by shoplifters. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump: Shooter at White House press dinner had multiple weapons, one officer shot
Trump, seated next to first lady Melania Trump, was quickly surrounded by Secret Service agents, while many attendees ducked under their tables.
theguardian.com
Bosses don’t like the sound of a ‘four-day workweek’. Maybe it’s time to rebrand it
Some employers are reluctant to cut workers’ hours but pay them the same – but it just might be the future of workWe keep hearing that the four-day workweek is the future. So why are so few businesses actually adopting it?Belgium, Iceland and Lithuania have passed legislation requiring the practice, and other countries in Europe are piloting the idea. Hundreds of companies in the UK have signed up for to give this a try. Microsoft tested the concept in Japan. Non-profits such as the 4 Day Week Foundation and WorkFour are dedicated to expanding the concept. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Higher prices could last for eight months after Iran war, minister says
Officials are monitoring stock levels and planning for any potential disruptions to the supply chain.
cnbc.com
World leaders express shock, support after White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting
Leaders from the U.K., France, the EU and Pakistan react to a shooting at a high-profile dinner in Washington, D.C., with Trump and his cabinet members.
theguardian.com
Ryanair to shut Berlin base as it blames rise in German aviation tax
Trade union criticises airline’s plan to halve passenger numbers to the city as ‘purely profit-oriented’ Ryanair is to shut its Berlin operating base and cut its winter schedule to the German capital in half, blaming soaring aviation taxes in the country.The Irish budget carrier said its relocation of seven aircraft to other centres would reduce its Berlin passenger numbers from 4.5 million to 2.2 million a year, with flights in and out of the city served from October by planes based at other airports. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
NatWest faces AGM showdown over ‘climate backtracking’
Shareholders including the Church of England back call for protest votes against bank’s chairNatWest is at risk of an embarrassing showdown at its shareholder meeting this week as investors and scientists call for an urgent reversal of what they describe as “climate backtracking”.Campaigners including ShareAction are calling for protest votes against the bank’s chair, Rick Haythornthwaite, at its annual meeting in Edinburgh on Tuesday. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The great energy pivot: US oil and Chinese solar are the winners in Trump’s war on Iran
Exposure of world’s reliance on Middle East supplies accelerates global shift towards new energy superpowersIn the open seas, an armada of empty tankers has quietly turned west. A record number of super-sized vessels are now heading to the US, where oil drillers and refineries are preparing to profit from Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East.Almost 30 of these vessels, each able to hold 2m barrels of oil, are contracted to load US crude, destined for a global market facing the biggest supply crisis in history. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Britain is undermining the care workers it depends on | Heather Stewart
Labour’s immigration plans tear up the promise made to 300,000 people recruited for a sector in crisis “We are deflated, we are sad. We feel the government is trying to pull the rug from under our feet,” says David. “It is like we are being criticised for working in a sector which the government called for us to come help with.”David – not his real name – is a care worker for adults with learning disabilities. He came to the east of England from Nigeria in 2022 with his wife as the Conservative government turned to migration to tackle the social care recruitment crisis. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Musk and Altman’s bitter feud over OpenAI to be laid bare in court
Tesla chief believes Altman broke company’s founding agreement – and legal battle promises to be explosiveThe bitter rivalry between two of the tech world’s most powerful men arrives in court this week, as Elon Musk’s lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI heads to trial in Oakland, California. The case is set to feature some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley, and its outcome could affect the course of the AI boom.Musk’s suit, filed in 2024, focuses on the formative years of OpenAI when he, Altman and others co-founded the artificial intelligence company as a nonprofit with a grand purpose. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK departments at odds over energy demands of AI datacentres
Discrepancy in forecasts raises questions over government planning for net zeroOne vision of the UK’s future involves a decarbonised economy powered by clean, renewable energy. Another involves making the UK an AI superpower.The government departments responsible for these two visions do not appear to have agreed on their numbers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
From syringes to stents: Iran war exposes NHS dependency on petrochemicals
NHS chiefs fear rising costs and healthcare shortages due to the shipping standstill in the GulfThe war in Iran has put the NHS on high alert amid fears about looming shortages and rising costs for medicines and medical products such as syringes, intravenous bags and gloves.Much of modern healthcare is dependent on the petrochemicals now held up by the Gulf shipping standstill – whether for active pharmaceutical ingredients or to produce the millions of sterile single-use items, ranging from personal protective equipment (PPE) to catheters and diagnostic-device casings. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ghost MOTs: drivers warned over fake certificates that lead to huge repair bills
Secondhand car buyers urged to carefully inspect vehicles, while owners told to beware tests that are suspiciously quickRise of the ‘ghost owner’: 18,000 UK vehicles in use without proper recordsYou have just bought a secondhand car. It was older than you wanted, but were reassured because it had recently passed its MOT.Within a few days, you notice a problem with the steering and take it into a garage to be checked. As well as that issue, they find the tread depth of the tyres is so low it should not have passed the test. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Shoplifters aren't just bad to the bone or mums stealing nappies. The truth is more complex| Emily Kenway
Speaking to career thieves as part of my research, I learned that childhood abuse, a life in care and little education has led them to this placeEmily Kenway is a social policy doctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh and author of Who Cares: the Hidden Crisis of Caregiving and How We Solve ItRyan* is 25 and he’s a shoplifter. He’s good at it too – about four times a week, he makes “no small money” by stealing and reselling goods from large department stores where security is limited. He’s strategic: he makes sure he’s clean and tidy, and keeps aware of CCTV. He usually steals just one or two high-value items to limit the risk of detection – designer garments or a small speaker, which he slips into a bag as he walks around the shop, before browsing a little longer and exiting.His actions are part of recent record highs in shoplifting offences. From March 2024 to March 2025, there were 530,643 offences recorded in England and Wales. This is a 20% rise on the previous year and the highest figure since current police recording practices began in 2003. There has been ample media coverage of this spike, helped by the recent scandal of a Waitrose worker being sacked after confronting a man stealing Easter eggs. Retail workers are suffering on the frontline; in its 2026 crime survey, the British Retail Consortium found that theft was “a major trigger for violence and abuse of staff”, leading the trade union for retail workers to warn that “shoplifting is not a victimless crime”. Meanwhile, the claim that Britain’s shoplifting “epidemic” symbolises a wider descent into “lawlessness” has become a familiar one in the media.Emily Kenway is a social policy doctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh and author of Who Cares: the Hidden Crisis of Caregiving and How We Solve ItDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
California’s jet fuel supply drops to three-year low as Middle East turmoil squeezes global oil market
Industry analysts say fuel price surge could lead to canceled flight routes that could snarl travelers’ plansCalifornia’s jet fuel supply has dropped to a level not seen since 2023, as turmoil in the Middle East continues to squeeze the global oil market.As of 17 April, the state’s jet fuel stock was just over 2.6m barrels, in comparison to 3.2m barrels two years prior, according to the California energy commission (CEC), which publishes a refinery stocks data dashboard. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
From car and phone to tractor owners, a populist wave is rising to end the 'captive' repair economy
"Right to repair" legislation is an issue that political candidates across the U.S. have made part of their affordability messaging.
cnbc.com
Some young Americans scale back dating as costs and apps add pressure, survey shows
Dating is becoming a financial decision for young Americans, with higher costs and paid apps leading many to cut back on dates.
cnbc.com
$300 bags, $150 earrings, $60 hats: Mid-priced products are a status symbol for young shoppers
A growing number of Gen Zers and millennial consumers with disposable income are shifting away from both luxury- and discount-priced retail items alike.
cnbc.com
36-year-old left the U.S. for China—now pays $1,000 rent and $100 for groceries for family of 4: It's my 'version of the American Dream’
A decade ago, Bradley Krae left the United States to teach English in Shenzhen, China. He spends less money and says the has found his own version of the American Dream there.
cnbc.com
AI talent war: Software industry is a new target as top executives jump ship to OpenAI
Software giants are seeing their worst stock performance in years on fears of AI disruption. Now they have a new problem.
theguardian.com
Facing AI and a tough job market, gen Z turns to entrepreneurship: ‘I have to prove myself’
As AI erases the bottom rungs of the corporate ladder, some gen Z workers skip the entry level to become their own CEOsWhen Ashley Terrell graduated from the University of Hawaii in 2024, she planned to find a job in marketing, maybe for a tech company. She had a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a college résumé that included a student marketing job for Red Bull. But after months of applying, her only offer was to work in the power tools section at Home Depot. “It was quite a shock,” she told the Guardian. “I searched for jobs every single day in that Home Depot bathroom.”Terrell’s generation is entering the workforce in a particularly unlucky moment. Hiring in the United States has slumped to its lowest rate since 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While workers of all ages are feeling the pressure of an uncertain economy, it’s gen Z who is the most pessimistic about their job prospects: entry-level jobs are the most vulnerable to impacts from artificial intelligence, and some younger workers are seeing their careers stall before they have even started. Terrell felt she was not just competing with other people for jobs. “Especially with marketing, a lot of people think it can be replaced with AI,” she said. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Will I ever retire? It doesn’t look like it | Dave Schilling
Being financially equipped to retire feels like a fantasy. And yet plenty of people who could do so are avoiding it“Retirement.” A word I can hardly spell anymore, it seems so abstract and impossible – like a science-fiction concept from a tattered old novel. In the classic film Blade Runner, “retirement” is the term used to describe the brutal ritual of future cops executing rogue androids called replicants (which auto-correct just tried to turn into “Republicans” against my will, though maybe Google Docs has a Freudian slip function now).The Blade Runner version of retirement strikes me as more feasible for modern humans – getting blasted by a jackbooted assassin with a phallic-looking blaster – than the traditional process. Actual retirement – cocktails on the beach in between golf games – is as distant as the farthest known star. As glamorous as my life must seem to you, dear reader, it is not that at all. Like most creative types who never bothered to learn to code, I scrape by every month, white-knuckling until the next heaven-sent direct deposit. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Nigel is mad to accept his money’: who is Christopher Harborne, the mystery billionaire bankrolling Reform?
A crypto tycoon is giving record-breaking amounts to Farage’s party. But little is known about his motivesShortly before Christmas 2022, Chakrit Sakunkrit, owner of the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary on the Thai island of Koh Samui, invited 200 guests to spend a few days celebrating his 60th birthday. One sultry afternoon, Sakunkrit and a small group gathered around a table near the shore, surrounded by the burgundy foliage of Good Luck plants. To his right, dressed down in a polo shirt, sat Nigel Farage.Since Brexit marked the achievement of his life’s work three years earlier, Farage had fizzled. Even some of his supporters had pronounced him finished. Now, with the Conservatives in disarray after Liz Truss’s disastrous budget that September, Farage was hinting at a still more ambitious project: to make himself prime minister. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Athens cannot operate as a giant hotel’: mayor vows to rescue capital from overtourism
Haris Doukas warns that with 700,000 residents and 8 million tourists, people are being pushed out of their neighbourhoodsIn the heart of ancient Athens, on narrow streets and around archaeological sites, visitor groups appear to be everywhere, snaking their way behind tour guides.At other times, officials would have welcomed such scenes. But for Haris Doukas, the socialist mayor who is determined to reclaim the capital’s congested city centre for its citizens, the start of the tourist season leaves much of its historic heart at risk of “over-saturation.” Entire neighbourhoods, he believes, are in danger of losing their authenticity because of uncontrolled tourist development. Continue reading...
bbc.com
England shirt overpriced, says £40k kits collector
Collector Les Motherby says classic England shirts are often better value than new ones.
bbc.com
Rescue centre facing eviction makes funding appeal
Redhead Rescues Animal Sanctuary in Northamptonshire wants to buy its own land.
theguardian.com
Altman apologizes after OpenAI failed to alert police before fatal Canada shooting
OpenAI said the company had identified an account using abuse-detection efforts, but determined at the time it didn’t meet threshold for legal referralThe head of OpenAI has written a letter apologizing that his company didn’t alert law enforcement about the online behavior of a person who shot and killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.In the letter posted on Friday, Sam Altman expressed his deepest condolences to the entire community. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Intel's stock has best day since 1987, soaring 24% as chipmaker shows signs of a turnaround
Shares of Intel have more than doubled this year on optimism that backing from the government will help the company's position in AI.
cnbc.com
Nvidia stock closes at record, pushing market cap past $5 trillion
Nvidia's stock closed at its first record since October, as a rally in Intel pushed chipmakers higher.
bbc.com
China car giant BYD says it can thrive without US
With the price of fuel rising China's BYD says it is positioning itself to benefit from the global shift away from fossil fuels.
cnbc.com
Kushner, Witkoff — not Vance — heading to Pakistan for 'direct talks' with Iran, White House says
President Donald Trump said he is in no rush to make a peace deal, claiming the Iran war has harmed stocks and oil prices less than he expected.
cnbc.com
Oil prices mixed as U.S. and Iran expected to hold talks in Pakistan
The talks would come after a previous efforts at negotiations fell apart.
bbc.com
US justice department drops probe into Fed chairman Jerome Powell
President Donald Trump had accused Powell of improper cost overruns in renovating the Fed's building.
cnbc.com
How a new Amazon-backed Hollywood production startup deploys AI for speed and cost-cutting
A new AI-powered hybrid Hollywood startup backed by AWS is betting that cutting-edge production tech can cut costs, speed up filming and bring jobs back to LA.
cnbc.com
20,000 job cuts at Meta, Microsoft raise concern that AI-driven labor crisis is here
Meta said it's cutting 10% of its workforce, just as Microsoft announced that it's offering employee buyouts for the first time in its 51-year history.
theguardian.com
‘Look, no hands’: China chases the driverless dream at Beijing car show
As domestic sales slow, manufacturers are investing in AI and seeking growth in technology and in overseas marketsAt the world’s biggest car fair, which opened in Beijing on Friday, there were hundreds of manufacturers, more than 1,000 vehicles, hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts – and hardly anyone behind a wheel.China’s car companies have cornered the domestic electric vehicle market, and are increasingly visible on the global stage. Now they are turning their attention to what they are betting is the future of mobility: autonomous driving. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tech bros: it’s time to challenge Silicon Valley’s saviour complex | Fiona Katauskas
They’re in a league of their ownSee more of Fiona Katauskas’s cartoons here Continue reading...
bbc.com
Island's inflation rate is 2.7%, new figures show
Statistics Jersey says there have been "sharp increases" in some energy prices.
theguardian.com
Stock markets will fall, Bank of England deputy governor says
Sarah Breeden predicts ‘adjustment’ due to elevated risk including private credit and highly valued AI stocksBusiness live – latest updatesRecord-high global stock markets do not reflect the risks in the global economy, and will fall back, a deputy governor at the Bank of England has said.Sarah Breeden, the deputy governor for financial stability at the Bank, fears that macroeconomic risks are not fully priced into equity markets. She cited concerns about private credit markets, highly valued artificial intelligence stocks, and other “risky valuations”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tokyo workers encouraged to wear shorts to cut energy costs and keep cool
Officials hope more casual attire for public servants will save electricity during Iran war as summer heat approachesPublic servants working for the Tokyo metropolitan government are being encouraged to swap their suits for shorts this summer to combat sweltering heat and rising energy costs caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.Inspired by Japan’s Cool Biz energy-saving initiative, Tokyo officials hope the measure will cut dependence on air conditioning. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Germany’s economy was set to rebound. But soaring energy prices have derailed Europe's biggest comeback
Fiscal spending is now a critical tailwind for Germany's economy, as the Iran war hammers its growth outlook.
theguardian.com
Ban fur farming or risk a new pandemic | Neil Vora
Banning an industry that is brutal to animals could be one of the most consequential public-health measures in decadesEvery year, millions of captive animals are gassed or electrocuted and then turned into multithousand-dollar fur coats. Though the industry has shrunk considerably in recent years, it poses a disproportionately large risk to human health. There’s a real chance that the next pandemic could be incubated within the cramped confines of a fur farm, and banning the cruel and senseless practice could be one of the most consequential public-health measures in decades.Fur farms are hell. Like other “factory” farms, these facilities confine thousands of animals in close quarters, crammed into tiny wire cages. Often, the animals can barely move around, living out their sad, stationary lives atop a pool of their own waste. Some species, like red foxes, begin chewing the tails off of their young, or even killing them.Neil Vora is the executive director of the Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition and led New York City’s Covid-19 contact tracing program from 2020 to 2021 Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How frustration at Cop stalemates inspires first global talks on phasing out fossil fuels
‘Coalition of the willing’ gathers in Colombia to try to bypass petrostate blockages of Cop summits and chart fresh pathThe world’s first Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels conference, co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, takes place in Santa Marta, Colombia, from 24 to 29 April. A “coalition of the willing” – including 54 countries and various subnational governments, civil society groups and academics – will try to chart a new path to powering the world with low-carbon energy. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Which airlines are cancelling flights to the UK - and what can you do?
Airlines are putting up prices and cancelling flights in response to higher jet fuel prices.
cnbc.com
Iran war, U.S. court’s tariff ruling delays India trade deal — but a bigger risk lies ahead
A delay in signing a trade deal with the U.S. would be expensive for India, as it could be exposed to the risk of higher tariffs under the Section 301 probe.
bbc.com
How does it affect me if share prices fall?
Changes in the FTSE 100 and other indexes are not just for financial experts, they can affect our lives.
bbc.com
Stock markets are too high and set to fall, says Bank of England deputy
It is unusual for a senior figure at the Bank to be so forthright on market movements.
cnbc.com
South Korea's 'ant investors' are marching to U.S. equities even as domestic market hits record highs
From January to November 2025, South Korean investors have been the largest foreign buyers of U.S. stocks.
bbc.com
Meta to cut one in 10 jobs after spending billions on AI
The cuts, which employees had been expecting for weeks, will be Meta's largest layoff since 2023.
cnbc.com
Alibaba’s Qwen AI is coming to cars, allowing drivers to order food and book hotels by voice
Alibaba is rolling out its Qwen AI across multiple car brands, promising hands-free features like ordering meals and managing deliveries from the driver’s seat.
theguardian.com
Stocks and shares Isas: are they right for me, and where is best to invest?
Some people are put off by myriad investment options. Here is a guide to the key decisions to help you choose ‘Savvy Squirrel’ ad campaign looks to push Britons towards investingThe UK government is keen to encourage people to invest. If you are thinking of dipping your toe into the stock market, an Isa is often the best way, as it lets you protect any gains from tax. Here’s how to get started. Continue reading...
bbc.com
White House memo claims mass AI theft by Chinese firms
A memo from Michael Kratsios says firms, mainly in China, are wrongfully distilling US AI models.
bbc.com
US soldier charged after winning $400,000 betting on removal of Maduro
Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly made trades on Polymarket on the basis of classified information, the justice department says.
bbc.com
From scientist to silk farmer: India's silk industry renewal
Silk production is an increasingly high-tech business in India.
bbc.com
High street drug dealer sells cannabis to undercover reporter
Across the UK, shopfronts are being exploited by criminal gangs pushing illegal drugs, experts say.
theguardian.com
BP’s chair deserved a kick for his silly obstinacy over shareholder resolution
Albert Manifold and his board refused to put a request from investor group on annual meeting agenda – leading to an investor revoltBP has fresh faces in the boardroom and a rigged strategy: it’s pivoting back to oil and gas and away from its low-carbon assets in an attempt to improve a weak share price. One can agree or disagree with the approach. But it was a silly act of overreach for a newish chair to try to stifle debate on such matters.That, in effect, was what Albert Manifold did when he excluded a resolution for Thursday’s annual meeting from Follow This, a Dutch investor group. The proposal itself cannot be described as explosive. It was pitched in investor-friendly terms and would merely have obliged BP to describe how it would protect shareholder value if demand for oil and gas falls. Nor is Follow This some two-bob outfit within the ranks of climate groups. It was claiming support from investors with $1tn under management. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Anthropic’s Claude Mythos: when AI finds every flaw, who controls the internet? | Editorial
Tech can scale cyber-attacks and defences alike, raising questions about private power, public risk and the future of a shared internetAnthropic announced its latest AI model, Claude Mythos, this month but said it would not be released publicly, because it turns computers into crime scenes. The company claimed that it could find previously unknown “zero-day” flaws, exploit them and, in principle, link these weaknesses in order to take over major operating systems and web browsers. Mythos did so autonomously, writing code and obtaining privileges. The implications are significant. It’s like a burglar being able to target any building, get inside, unlock every door and empty every safe.The Silicon Valley company has so far named 40 organisations as partners under Project Glasswing to help mount a defence – asking them to “patch” vulnerabilities before hackers get a chance to exploit them. All are American, sitting at the heart of the US-led digital system. Anthropic shared Mythos with only Britain outside the US, allowing the AI Security Institute to test frontier models. After seeing it up close, British ministers warned: AI is about to make cyber-attacks much easier and faster, and most businesses are not ready. Banks in Europe are likely to test it next.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ben Jennings on the Met’s interest in using Palantir AI technology – cartoon
Discover and buy more of Ben’s cartoons hereOrder your own print of this cartoon from the Guardian Print Shop Continue reading...
bbc.com
Warner Bros shareholders approve Paramount's $111bn takeover
The approval came as Donald Trump is to attend a dinner with billionaire Paramount backers the Ellisons.
bbc.com
What the Warner Bros deal could mean for streaming, cinemas and news
If Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros goes ahead it could significantly reshape Hollywood.
bbc.com
Asbestos toy warnings
Asbestos toy warnings
bbc.com
UK borrowing lowest for three years but Iran war clouds outlook
The improvement in government finances is unlikely to last, analysts say, with the impact of the Iran way yet to hit.
bbc.com
Four arrested over suspected home insulation scheme fraud
The Serious Fraud Office raided homes and businesses over alleged conspiracy to defraud public money.
theguardian.com
Footage purportedly shows Iranian forces seize two vessels in the strait of Hormuz - video
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards released footage purportedly showing its forces seizing two vessels in the strait of Hormuz and escorting them to Iranian shores. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said the two ships attempted 'to exit the strait of Hormuz covertly'. The White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump did not consider the capture of the ships to be a violation of the US-Iran ceasefire because the vessels were not American or Israeli• Middle East crisis – live updates Continue reading...
bbc.com
Asos demands £7m from US as firms rush to claim tariff refunds
Hundreds of thousands of firms could potentially win back some money after the tariffs were struck down.
bbc.com
AI is already leading to fewer jobs for young people, says Sunak
The former prime minister said graduates' concerns about getting entry-level jobs are justified.
bbc.com
Watch: BBC goes undercover at mini-mart selling drugs
BBC UK editor Ed Thomas confronts a shopkeeper secretly filmed selling cannabis and cocaine to one of our researchers.
theguardian.com
One ship, three deaths: the shocking truth behind working conditions on a Chinese fishing vessel
Damning testimony from the crew of one longline tuna-fishing boat has lifted the lid on the treatment of workers in the fleets supplying fish to the UK and EUAbdul was the first to fall sick, in February 2025, four months into his first ever stint on a longline tuna fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean. Told he was “weak” and “overreacting” by other crew members, he forced himself to keep working, even when he could barely stand, his legs swollen and bruised.In the months that followed, other crew members of the Tai Xiang 5, a Chinese vessel belonging to Shandong Zhonglu Oceanic Fisheries, a large state-owned fishing company, allegedly began to suffer similar symptoms: swollen, painful limbs and debilitating weakness, with some becoming very short of breath. They were offered no proper medical care, claims Abdul, 36, nor rest from the gruelling 16-hour days, for which they earned 4.6m Indonesian rupiah (about £198) a month. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The ‘big durian’: one day in Jakarta, the world’s largest city
The UN has officially designated Jakarta the world’s largest city, home to 42 million. We explore a day in the life of the ‘big durian’.In December, the United Nations officially designated Jakarta the world’s largest city, hosting a staggering 42 million inhabitants. Michael Neilson speaks to several people who call the ‘big durian’ home – about the positives and the negatives – and how community and the city’s infamously dry humour get them through. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How a pivot to hair accessories led to business success
Jenny Lennick's colourful hair clips are sold across the US and around the world.
bbc.com
Inflation: What do price increases mean for you?
Prices went up by 3.3% in March, but what does that mean for you asks the BBC's Colletta Smith.
bbc.com
Three ways the latest inflation figures affect you
How high could inflation get? And what could it mean for borrowers and savers around the country?
theguardian.com
Kevin Warsh accused of being Trump's 'sock puppet' as senators grill Fed chair nominee – video
During Warsh's confirmation hearing, Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren expressed concerns that Federal Reserve nominee would become a 'sock puppet' for Donald Trump. Republican senator John Kennedy also asked Warsh to deny he would be the president's 'sock puppet', which he did Continue reading...
bbc.com
The 'dumb machine' promising a clean energy breakthrough
A stellarator is difficult to build, but could it be the best way to make fusion energy work?
bbc.com
Are insider traders making millions from the Iran war?
The BBC has found suspicious trading patterns that correlate with some of the president's most market-moving statements.
bbc.com
Why your recycled clothes could end up in this South American desert
Old garments from around the world are being discarded in the South American country.
bbc.com
Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like
Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?
bbc.com
Could a digital twin make you into a 'superworker'?
Firms say digital twins make staff more productive, but are they a potential legal minefield?
bbc.com
Back to books - Sweden's schools cutting back on digital learning
Swedish classrooms swap laptops for books, pens and paper, raising concerns from the tech sector.
bbc.com
Quantum computing: A tech race Europe could win?
With some promising computing companies in the field, could Europe be a leader in quantum tech?
bbc.com
The Dutch village at risk of being demolished
Moerdijk has been earmarked for removal, to make way for a vast electricity substation.
bbc.com
'Every drop of water counts': Fear for the future of Argentina's glaciers
A controversial law to ease protections for the glaciers has passed, opening the doors for mining.
bbc.com
TV for dogs booms but are they watching?
TV channels for dogs are multiplying but research is mixed on whether dogs are watching.
bbc.com
The construction boss who built a new life after three years in prison
Traci Quinn, who was jailed for a drugs offence, has transformed herself and set up a successful firm.
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
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